Laser Training – La Cruz, Mexico

Laser sailing and the way champions sail downwind has changed a lot in the last 15 years and there are still massive gains to be had in most sailors’ downwind technique. 

In our most popular clinic, we’ll tow 11 miles up the coast in the morning and sail downwind in warm, champagne sailing conditions all the way back to ISA every day for 6 days. That’s more downwind practice than your average sailor gets in a decade!

You’ll work on downwind strategy/tactics, crucial body positions for all wind conditions, sail setup and sheet tensions, capsize prevention, positive and negative flow, pressing, rocking technique, wave catching, surfing, sheet timing, light wind best practices, staying legal/rule 42, wave skew identification/technique, roll jibes, lee to lee jibes, heavy air jibes and more.

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Coaching Video

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

Downwind Sessions: Note if Booking “Downwind Sessions” vs. “Downwind Clinic”, you will be coached by rising local star Namkhai Bourquin. Contact us for more details if desired.

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If you’re unable to attend one of our listed Clinic Dates, or would like a customized experience for your group of sailors, please contact us. We try our best to accommodate groups and individuals who require training, but who are unable to attend our scheduled clinics. This could be an exclusive group or open to all sailors depending on your needs. Shoot us an e-mail with what you’d like to do so we can make your training in paradise perfect this season.

Includes: Boat Charter, Daggerboard, Rudder, Spars, Facility Use, Training Partners, Champagne Sailing Conditions

Not Included: Coaching, meals, accommodation

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Train in paradise with great sparring partners during peak season at ISA. All sailors from beginning racer to World Championship campaigner are welcome to train at ISA. We offer Laser charters and an on-water facility complete with; air conditioned briefing space, washrooms, showers, changing area, fresh water hoses, lockable storage for valuables and proximity directly next to the boat ramp. Conditions at ISA are world renowned with consistent wind from November through June. By choosing your launch time, you can access light, medium or stronger wind through the daily build of breeze and sea state. Take your speed, handling and racing to the next level with your own training group, or arrive solo and train with other passionate sailors at ISA. Many sailors will pick this option after an intensive coaching clinic to lock in their skills on their own time in the champagne sailing conditions of the Banderas Bay.

Includes: Boat Charter, Daggerboard, Rudder, Spars, Facility Use, Training Partners, Paradise

Not Included: Coaching, meals, accommodation

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Designed ISA Coach Paul Swan, PhD., this Clinic will establish a very strong foundational base in Laser racing for sailors of all ages.

If you have experience sailing other types of boats but haven’t sailed a Laser before, struggled with it for a while, or are used to sailing larger boats and want to develop a “dinghy feel,” then this Clinic is perfect for you.

Participants who have benefited from our “Learn to Laser” program include Masters sailors looking to update their technique, weaker Laser sailors seeking more control and foundational skills to boost their racing confidence, youth program sailors, Opti sailors transitioning to the Laser, high school sailors, and many more. Our goal is to teach you how to race the Laser from the ground up, ensuring a strong foundation for continued performance and growth in the class.

During the clinic, we will focus on improving your boathandling and boatspeed, enabling you to feel confident and in control in various conditions. In six days, you will learn how to race a Laser the right way and leave with a plan to further your progression quickly. This clinic welcomes participants of all ages.

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Facility Use, Coaching Video

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

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5x Masters World Champion Bill Symes will be at ISA Mexico for Winter 2023/2024 to coach 6 day Laser Training Clinics. Progress under the guidance and leadership of a champion with over 40 years of Laser racing experience.  Bill is a passionate student of the art and science of sailboat racing, and just as passionate about sharing his insights with other Laser sailors from around the world. You’ll bring your Laser sailing to new heights in a Laser Sailing Clinic designed by a 5x Masters World Champion in conjunction with ISA. This clinic will provide a fun and challenging six days of speed and handling work, racing integration, mindset enhancement and more. Your venue boasts two Laser World Championships held in the past 6 years and is a favorite of all sailors who attend.

You’ll enjoy meeting and progressing with new sailing friends. The evening social events hosted by local Laser sailors during this clinic are not to be missed. This is a masters focused clinic but sailors of all ages have attended, and all are welcome.

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Facility Use, Coaching Video, Champagne Sailing Conditions

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

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2x Olympian and SailGP Athlete Tom Ramshaw will visit ISA Mexico for Winter 2023/2024 to coach 6 Day Laser Training Clinics. Tom has distilled his years of experience and collaborations with top coaches to bring technical skills, clarity, and results to all sailors he works with.

Tom reduces the noise around technical sailing and gives sailors digestible skill based objectives that result in instant performance increases. He has been extremely well reviewed with intermediate/advanced masters due to his ability to plan and stack productive days that result in measurable gains through the week. His ability to bring clarity and simplicity to complex skills, combined with excellent daily prioritization results in sailors making rapid progress. Drawing from Olympic and elite sailing experiences, Tom also has the insight to pinpoint the 1% which advanced sailors are missing, drilling down on the nuances of speed or handling to help sailors get over plateaus and sticking points in their journey to success. This clinic will provide a fun and challenging six days of speed and handling work, both upwind and downwind, with some racing integration.

Sailors of all ages have attended this clinic, and all are welcome.

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Facility Use, Coaching Video, Champagne Sailing Conditions

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

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Take advantage of this opportunity to work with an Australian Sailing Team member over 6 days of training in paradise here in La Cruz, Mexico.

Luke “Swifto” Elliott has trained under renowned Australian coaches Arthur Brett and 3x Olympic Gold Medal coach Michael Blackburn for over a decade. He was training partner to Olympic Gold medalist Tom Burton and now with Olympic Gold medalist Matt Wearn. To wear the AST logo, and do so long term, is one of the toughest accomplishments in Laser sailing.

Swifto will bring the proven and coveted Australian Sailing Team training regimen and knowledge to ISA sailors. In daily briefings, you’ll see model behavior from the worlds best sailors while Swifto details how to integrate key aspects of what they do, into your own sailing. On the water, Swifto uses the Australian Sailing Team training format to achieve measurable results with each sailor. He’ll provide detailed feedback during daily drills so sailors can make instant changes on the water and move towards model behavior/best practice performance. Each day he’ll shoot video of your progress. Subsequent debriefs will include detailed analysis of your sailing to ensure there is complete clarity in your next days objectives. This clinic is open to sailors of all ages, from youth to masters.

“I want to provide a really fun and productive training environment that makes you want to come back for more each day! I love Laser sailing and have dedicated the last half of my life to it – and have been lucky enough to work with some of the best in the business. I will help enhance your sailing abilities and take your racing to the next level whether it’s trying to win your first club race, your national title or competing at the World Championships. Whatever the goal, I’m keen to make it happen.”   Luke “Swifto” Elliott

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Facility Use, Coaching Video, Champagne Sailing Conditions

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

Progress with other sailors in a customized curriculum specifically tailored to your goals.

For sailors of all ages, from aspiring racer to Olympian ability levels, ISA can assess your racing and help you prioritize skill development, so that you’re working on things that will make the biggest difference in your results, while providing a foundation of good habits and skill for further development in the future. Work with the worlds BEST coaches in one of the most renowned sailing venues in the world over 6 days of intensive coaching with daily video review. Past coaches have included: Vaughn Harrison, Colin Gowland, Anne-Marie Rindom, Nick Thompson, Thomas Saunders,  Brett Beyer, Anna Tunnicliffe, Elliot Hansen, Bill Symes, Paul Swan and more.

Train and socialize with other amazing Laser sailors and enjoy the exceptional conditions and coaching ISA has to offer.

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Coaching Video, 1 Month ISA Online Subscription, Facility Use, Champagne Conditions

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

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Anna Tunnicliffe Tobias will return to ISA Mexico in 2024 to coach her renowned Gold Medal Clinic this winter.  Take your Laser sailing to the next level in a Laser Sailing Clinic designed by an Olympic Gold Medalist in conjunction with ISA. This clinic will provide an incredible, fun and challenging six days of boat handling and speed development, fitness, mindset work and more. Progress and enjoy this Laser Sailing clinic and meet new Laser Sailors under the guidance and leadership of an Olympic Champion.

Anna is an Olympic Gold Medalist in Laser, ISAF Sailing World Champion, Two time Rolex Sailor of the Year, US College Sailor of the Year and Rolex US Sailing Yachtswoman of the year. She is currently on the US Olympic Sailing Team. Anna’s approach to coaching leverages her experiences that led her to the pinnacle of performance. Her coaching is technical and direct. Anna runs a fast paced day with drills designed to achieve daily technical objectives that include plenty of racing integration to transfer new skills into practical use. Sailors will enjoy direct involvement in the interactive video and session debrief each day. For 10 years ISA sailors have been attending this special opportunity to train with Anna, and have made massive gains by doing so – we look forward to her returning again in 2024.

Includes: Boat Charter, Daggerboard, Rudder, Spars, Facility Use, Training Partners, Champagne Sailing Conditions

Not Included: Meals, accommodation

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Work with Olympic Coach Vaughn Harrison to prepare for your 2024 peak regatta in this rare opportunity between his Olympic training sessions.

For the first time ever, Vaughn will share and help you implement regatta prep strategies that will help you succeed. You are going to set goals, analyze your racing venue, track your skill progression and get personal feedback. To experience a sample of Vaughn’s tools and how these will benefit you, take a look at this video

Enjoy the epic conditions of La Cruz, Mexico with one of the best Laser coaches in the world. Coaching format will include deliberate practice in sailing, technical/practical theory and in-depth video review. A large emphasis will be placed on venue analysis, pre-race preparation, starting, strategy, and tactics through many focused racing situations.

Vaughn coached at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and will coach for Team Canada in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Vaughn has coached top sailors such as: Michael Beckett, Nick Thompson, John Baptiste Bernaz, Sarah Douglas, Elliot Hansen, Erika Reineke, Lorenzo Chiavarini, and other elite championship winning athletes. He will bring masters sailors abilities and mindsets to new heights in an epic volume of training over 6 days to prepare them for the big event in Adelaide.

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Facility Use, Coaching Video, Champagne Sailing Conditions

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

Location: La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Mexico

Work with Coach Paul Swan PhD. in this rare opportunity to take your boatspeed to the next level over 6 consecutive days of training in paradise.

*** Please note there is limited availability for this clinic *** 

Enjoy the epic conditions of La Cruz, Mexico with one of the best Laser coaches in the world. Paul Swan has been utilizing his PhD. in learning systems to constantly put ISA’s coaching program through the gears ensuring maximum learning progression. As a resident coach, he has sailed in nearly every ISA clinic held since 2013. He has meticulously analyzed each coaches content, delivery, and effectiveness first hand. After years of clinic evolution through his own coaching, he’s distilled everything into a rock solid program of his own creation. SPEED WEEK.

This exclusive clinic focuses on the three skills that make up the majority of a Laser/ILCA race and have the most potential to improve your race results:

1) Starting

2) Upwind Speed

3) Downwind Speed

Using world champions and gold medalists as our models, we’ll analyze their techniques and turn them into efficient and effective instruction that will enable you to incorporate the techniques into your own racing. In addition, Coach Swan will introduce to you key mental game techniques from sports psychology.  These techniques combined with improvements in the key categories listed above, will make you virtually unbeatable!

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Facility Use, Coaching Video, Champagne Sailing Conditions

Limited Availability: 4 Sailors

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

Location: La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Mexico

Canadian National Team Coach and 3x Olympian Andrew Lewis will visit La Cruz between his Olympic Coaching engagements for a six-day training clinic in La Cruz, Mexico. This clinic focuses on racing, with an emphasis on starting, tactics, and strategy. Andrew’s expertise and motivational skills make him one of the most inspiring and knowledgeable coaches in the game – don’t miss this special opportunity to work with him at ISA. This clinic will be focused towards youth sailors in the ILCA6. 

Each day begins with discussions on key aspects of racing, followed by personalized plans to maximize gains. On-water sessions include starting repetitions and a mix of short, medium and longer course racing. Andrew will provide precise feedback and create drills as needed to provide greater focus on different areas of the course which require more deliberate practice. Debrief sessions involve group discussions and video analysis by this 3X Olympian, to highlight areas for improvement and provide focus for the next day’s mission. 

“There is much potential we can unlock in ones racing by making sure the key components of ILCA racing is understood and practiced. I look forward to sharing this information with you all to better your racing skills.” Andrew Lewis

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Facility Use, Coaching Video, Champagne Sailing Conditions

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

Location: La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Mexico

Join Pro Coach and 6x Masters World Champion Al Clark over 6 consecutive days of training in paradise in March of 2024.

Enjoy the epic conditions of La Cruz, Mexico with 6x Masters World Champion, 2x North American ILCA6 Champion, and life-long Laser coach Al Clark. For 21 years Al has been coaching Laser squads full time while simultaneously achieving excellence in his own sailing. Al will bring his deep ILCA knowledge, and all his secrets to success to ISA sailors in March 2024. His mission – make tangible gains for Laser/ILCA sailors each and every single day of training.

This clinic will enjoy a wide focus including: boat setup, upwind and downwind speed work, boat handling, downspeed starting maneuvers, and finally tactics and strategy. Al will be looking for areas to move you upwards through the fleet by a process of incremental improvements. He’ll also share his advice on fitness training and mobility for the Laser/ILCA and other important aspects of racing such as regatta and race day preparation methodology. Sailors will enjoy a range of daily conditions including a daily thermal breeze with plenty of wind, waves, and warm water.

Includes: 6 Days Coaching, Laser Charter, Facility Use, Coaching Video, Champagne Sailing Conditions

Not Included: Meals and Accommodations

Location: La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Mexico

Work with AST athlete Luke “Swifto” Elliott to dominate the 2024 ILCA6 Masters World Championships in Adelaide, Australia. This package includes 2 days of clinic coaching on February 2 and 3, and 6 days of regatta coaching through the event.

Luke “Swifto” Elliott has trained under renowned Australian coaches Arthur Brett and 3x Olympic Gold Medal coach Michael Blackburn for over a decade. He was training partner to Olympic Gold medalist Tom Burton and now with Olympic Gold medalist Matt Wearn. To wear the AST logo, and do so long term, is one of the toughest accomplishments in Laser sailing.

Luke will be fresh off his Worlds campaign and his in-depth venue analysis will be shared with all participants during the 2 day clinic. Each regatta day, you’ll receive a forecast, wind/current readings, and a strategical briefing taking geographical and local conditions into effect. Swifto will help you tune up pre-race and deliver any last-minute tips before the guns. He’ll analyze the action and give you a post race summary plus a focus for the next race. You’ll be able to bring your supplies, spare parts, and any other items in the AST coach boat so they’re always available to you. At the end of the day, you’ll enjoy a debrief of the racing, including video of the action, to help focus and prepare you for the next day.

** Please note this package has very limited availability **

Includes: 2 Days Clinic Coaching, 6 Days ILCA6 Regatta Coaching/Support

Not Included: Meals, Accommodations, Boat Charter

Location: Adelaide, Australia